Different mobilizations took place on 12 October in the state of Chiapas to commemorate 521 years of indigenous, black, and popular resistance, as well as to protest the neoliberal policies being developed by the cabinet of the government of Enrique Peña Nieto.
In San Cristóbal de las Casas, thousands of persons marched in an event organized by the Movement of Social Organizations of the State of Chiapas, a group which brings together a dozen indigenous and campesino organizations in the state. “After a long march and a few difficult moments, we arrived today to this great effort toward unity to once again march together […]. We struggle to defend our rights, the national sovereignty, the territory, natural goods and resources, mineral wealth, and the rights of the peoples to exploit these in a sustainable manner, and moreover we affirm the right to develop the territory and to realize the peoples’ demands,” declared members of the Movement.
In other cities such as Ocosingo and Palenque there were also held different protest activities, such as roadblocks, occupations of city halls, and marches.
In Tuxtla Gutiérrez, the state capital, at least 10 thousand persons, members of different organizations such as the National Coordination of Educational Workers (CNTE), health workers, and employees of the Institute of Social Security for Workers of the State of Chiapas (ISSTECH) marched to protest the educational reform and the totality of structural reforms imposed by the federal government in the spheres of health, housing, and energy.
For more information (in Spanish):
Protestan miles en Chiapas por políticas colonizadoras y reformas de Peña(Proceso, 12 de octubre de 2013)
Marchan por el Día de la Raza (Diario de Chiapas, 13 de octubre de 2013)
Movilizaciones por el “Día de la Resistencia Indígena Campesina Negra y Popular” (Expreso, 13 de octubre de 2013)
Recuerdan 12 de octubre con marcha (Cuarto Poder, 13 de octubre de 2013)
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